Ethical Considerations in Research: A Comprehensive Guide

Aim of your research

The report should contain

-Aim of your research-In one sentence explain what you intend to find out.

-Objectives of your research

-Methodology. Briefly reiterate the Approach, Design, Methods and Participants, Validity and reliability, Data analysis

-Ethical considerations. This is the main section of your assignment and you are expected to identify and discuss ethical issues relevant to your research.

-Respect for the autonomy, privacy and dignity of individuals and communities. Explain what procedures you are going to put in place for valid consent, confidentiality, anonymity and fair treatment. These could include the Participant information form; Participant Consent form;

-Scientific integrity. Explain what measures you will be taking to ensure that your research is based on authentic data that you have collected from the participants described in your “methods” section.

-Social responsibility. Explain how your research supports and reflect respect for the dignity and integrity of persons and organisations involved. Explain how your research contributes to the “common good”.

-Maximising benefit and minimising harm. Explain what you will be doing to avoid potential risk to the personal values, invasion of privacy and risk to psychological well-being of your participants and organisations. Explain who could benefit from your findings and how.

Critically engage in the ethical considerations of conducting research projects and the associated difficulties associated with the ethics involved in research decision-making.

Demonstrate transferable skills including time management, project management, listening, negotiation, written communication skills, independent learning and advanced research skills

· Please read this carefully and comply fully:

· Follow the course guidelines regarding submitting work, as below (e.g. electronic or paper copies).

· Pages should be numbered.

· All work to be submitted as Arial 12 font with 1.5 line spacing.

· All writing should be in the third person passive.

· Written work must be word-processed

· The module title and code number must be clearly marked on the front cover.

· Work you submit for assessment must be properly referenced – a guide to the Harvard system of

referencing can be found on the Bucks website at bucks.ac.uk/referencing.

· You may seek clarification from the module tutor at any time.

· There is no excuse for failing to submit your work in accordance with the guidance, work that does not meet the necessary standards in that respect will be marked accordingly.

Have you read and understood the assessment criteria?

Have you met the learning outcomes? You will lose marks and your work may even be failed if you have not.

Have you demonstrated you can think and write critically in the completed work?

This means you have supported your arguments/explanations appropriately e.g. using relevant academic sources and you have offered discussion points which extends your own or others’ viewpoints to make reasoned conclusions/judgements.

Have you maintained an academic tone throughout your work? Is your work formal, focused, developed and clear?

Have you checked that the referencing in your assignment is in line with your programme requirements?

Have you proof-read your work and used spellcheck software to check your spelling and grammar?

Have you checked the presentation of your work is as specified by your tutor, for example, are font size, colour,style, line spacing and margins as the tutor specified?

Have you kept to the word count (or equivalent)? If you are not sure, check with your tutor.

Can you confirm that the work submitted is your own and not plagiarised?

Please use the provided checklist below to make sure you are ‘fit to submit’ your work

We recommend you use this checklist as soon as you get this assignment brief to help you plan your work